Steeper Than Steep

#followcamfriday visiting the historic Mount 7 psychosis track with the Kiwi contingent. Good luck. 

Know your history, nerds. Mount 7 last hosted the Psychosis race in 2008. At the time, and still to this very day, it is regarded as one of the hardest tracks to ever race a DH bike on. Bars were narrower, bikes were heavier and men were manlier. Despite having $10K, state of the art, carbon space ship MTB's, we still didn't come close to Sam's winning time. What have we learned? Skills over bills. 

In case you were unsure of the pitch, here is a catch-net so save your body from flinging itself off of a cliff. I wonder how many people have ended up in this thing. I didn't bother, or should I say, actually couldn't stop to see what was behind that thing, but I am guessing it is not pretty. Stay left. Ignorance is bliss. 

The top of Dead Dog is a scree chute. Don't get too cocky of you make it down that in one piece, the trail only gets steeper and more slippery once you make it into the trees. If you make it into the trees... The tree section was wet when we rode it, bad choice, but there is no time like the present. To put this in perspective, bot Kiwi's opted for gloves on this day. I have never seen such a thing. 

The drop in is enough of a squirrel catcher to keep 99% of the people from dropping in. Basically dropping off the edge of the world. Nope, you can't see the bottom. The tourists that we passed by as we rolled in were in disbelief, clutching their iPhones, documenting the gnar. Tag us on IG, tourists. Made their vacation. 

If I had a dollar every time someone said "the GoPro makes things look flat" I wouldn't be typing these words. GoPro effect in full effect as Nigel tries to not die. Basically, the accepted technique is try and go as slow as possible. Turns out that is still too fast. 

Tom Bradshaw. Kiwi legend. Dirt suit model. No fucks given. Standing on the paraglider launch ramp offers hella views to the valley below. Just 1800 meters below. What could go wrong? 

So, good luck. Sam Hill holds the track record at just under 13 minutes. honorable mentions to Stevie Smith and Tyler Morland for holding it down for Canada. I should mention that it is worth googling "Mount 7 Psychosis" and going down that rabbit hole. A word of caution though, you will feel like less of a man, after you do. 2008 has come and gone and these guys are still faster than you, by a mile, on what would be considered "unrideable" bikes, by today's Pinkbike audience. I mean, they had 26" wheels....